Mayor of Sacramento, CA, Kevin Johnson?

Former Phoenix Suns basketball player and multiple-year All Star, Kevin Johnson, ran for the office of Mayor of Sacramento, CA in yesterday’s election.

As of today, Johnson, a Democrat, is leading in the race, with results being slowed by mail-in ballot counts.

Politics and sports are never far apart from each other, really.  One of the reasons that I love both so much is that they have so many things in common: strategy, leadership and the issues that effect both – economics, society, culture – cannot be neatly separated out from either sports or politics.

Kevin was always a decent guy when he played in the NBA.  I remember watching him go down with class when the Bulls throttled the Suns back in the ‘90s for the Championship.  I have no idea what sort of Mayor he will make, should he be elected.  But, if successful, I can guarantee this:  he will seek higher office.

That’s another thing that politics and sports have in common:  unbridled ambition.

(Photo: Getty Images)

A Cubs and Northwestern fan, Joe Moag is a major sports junkie, and although he still runs, he hasn't been able to dunk anything more than a donut for decades.